What is the meaning behind existence, in your view?

[GrowingSmaller]

Edit.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

What does an outer rock look like?
Is it transubstantiated?
The essence behind the appearance.
Can it even be contemplated?
An instrumentalist may point to equations, but they are based on occasions.
The thing in itself, is it more like an elf, or a book on a shelf?
^^
I think I need help...

 

[ananda]

Then good luck then crossing a street where you are blindfolded and an unoccupied car is rolling down a hill because someone forgot to set the parking brake. As long as no one is looking, you're okay, right?

(This is Darwin Award material.)


eudaimonia,

Mark

I have not achieved the miraculous yet.

IMO the car exists "independently" because it exists in someone's (or multiple someones') mental reality, whether in the past, present, or future.

 

[ananda]

Of some filters, but not all filters. To say you can just look at things completely as they are is a stretch. You have particular biases of sorts that you're approaching things with and eve if they are good, that doesn't mean you've looked at things completely.

You are right, in the sense that only arahants can see reality without filters or biases.

 

[ananda]

If you were the only one left alive on Earth, you could be impervious to falling rocks and trees? Just close your eyes...

I believe in the existence of conscious observers which are not human.

 

[Davian]

I believe in the existence of conscious observers which are not human.

Do they have brains? The only use of the word "conscious" that I am aware of is based in biology.

 

[ananda]

Do they have brains? The only use of the word "conscious" that I am aware of is based in biology.

No. I do not believe that the consciousness is a product of the brain.

 

[Davian]

No. I do not believe that the consciousness is a product of the brain.

Based on what theory?

 

[ananda]

Based on what theory?

I think that the fact that some have been discovered living normally without a brain shows that the brain is not the consciousness.

 

[Davian]

I think that the fact that some have been discovered living normally without a brain shows that the brain is not the consciousness.

That article does not support your statement. Got anything else?

 

[ananda]

That article does not support your statement. Got anything else?

That article was supportive, in my opinion. Many NDE testimonies as well.

 

[Davian]

That article was supportive, in my opinion.

That person had a brain. What that was supportive of was brain plasticity.

Many NDE testimonies as well.

"Near death" is not death.

Is that it?

 

[ananda]

That person had a brain. What that was supportive of was brain plasticity.

5% of a normal brain is not significant, at least to me. I understand that you do not accept that as proof, but I do.

"Near death" is not death.

I didn't say anything about death. I was merely pointing out that consciousness is linked with many NDEs associated with no brain activity.

Is that it?

Well, your original question was "what theory" - my theory is based on Buddhist beliefs. The brain is merely the mind's interface with the five physical senses. The consciousness is a completely separate thing, and controls the mind.

 

[bhsmte]

5% of a normal brain is not significant, at least to me. I understand that you do not accept that as proof, but I do.

I didn't say anything about death. I was merely pointing out that consciousness is linked with many NDEs associated with no brain activity.

Well, your original question was "what theory" - my theory is based on Buddhist beliefs. The brain is merely the mind's interface with the five physical senses. The consciousness is a completely separate thing, and controls the mind.

How do you know these people with NDE's had no brain activity?

You do realize, even EEG's can not detect all brain activity all the time and the vast majority of people who experienced NDE's were not connected to EEG's.

 

[ananda]

How do you know these people with NDE's had no brain activity?

You do realize, even EEG's can not detect all brain activity all the time and the vast majority of people who experienced NDE's were not connected to EEG's.

I don't know if they had no brain activity, I believe reports that many of these people experiencing NDE events did not have such activity.

Brains are localized to the body, yet many people have experienced events outside of the body (including myself). This tells me that the brain is not the consciousness.

 

[bhsmte]

I don't know if they had no brain activity, I believe reports that many of these people experiencing NDE events did not have such activity.

Brains are localized to the body, yet many people have experienced events outside of the body (including myself). This tells me that the brain is not the consciousness.

That is my point, no one can even determine if there was brain activity unless the person is connected to an EEG and most people that have experienced NDE's were not. Also, EEG's have shown to be error prone and miss brain activity, because of interference involved with how EEG's work.

And, what people experience with NDE's can be explained by what happens to the brain when it begins to lack oxygen and has been explained by many neuroscientists. Lastly, there is a neuropsychologist in Canada, that has replicated some of the feelings of out of body experiences, by stimulating parts of the brain.

 

[ananda]

That is my point, no one can even determine if there was brain activity unless the person is connected to an EEG and most people that have experienced NDE's were not. Also, EEG's have shown to be error prone and miss brain activity, because of interference involved with how EEG's work.

And, what people experience with NDE's can be explained by what happens to the brain when it begins to lack oxygen and has been explained by many neuroscientists. Lastly, there is a neuropsychologist in Canada, that has replicated some of the feelings of out of body experiences, by stimulating parts of the brain.

IMO a hypoperfused brain in a hypoxic state with undetectable brain EEG activity is highly unlikely to produce verifiable OOBEs.

 

[bhsmte]

IMO a hypoperfused brain in a hypoxic state with undetectable brain EEG activity is highly unlikely to produce verifiable OOBEs.

What is OOBE?

 

[ananda]

What is OOBE?

Out of body experiences

 

[bhsmte]

IMO a hypoperfused brain in a hypoxic state with undetectable brain EEG activity is highly unlikely to produce verifiable OOBEs.

Your opinion is noted.

I will rely on the experts in the field though, to give the most valid observation (based on their knowledge) of the brain and lack of oxygen.

http://news.discovery.com/human/psy...gen-deprivation-in-near-death-experiences.htm